A hearing in the U.S. Congress on medical radiation that was scheduled for February 10 has been postponed indefinitely as a result of snowy weather that has paralyzed the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.
At least five major professional associations representing diagnostic imaging and therapeutic radiation providers and manufacturers were preparing to testify at the hearing, which was scheduled to discuss issues regarding rising medical radiation dose as well as errors in the diagnostic and therapeutic use of radiation.
The announcement postponing the hearing was posted on the Web site of the U.S. House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee. A staff member told AuntMinnie.com by telephone that a new date for the hearing has not been set because another major winter snowstorm is expected to hit Washington, DC, on Wednesday.
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a major initiative to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure from CT, fluoroscopy, and nuclear medicine exams. The congressional hearings, to be chaired by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), subcommittee on health chairman, are believed to be associated with this initiative.
Related Reading
FDA launches initiative to rein in medical radiation, February 9, 2010
Congress sets hearings to review medical radiation, February 8, 2010
Second NY Times article highlights radiation therapy errors, January 29, 2010
NY Times article details radiation therapy errors, January 26, 2010
FDA finds new cases of radiation overexposure, December 7, 2009
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